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Evidence summaries

Psychological Interventions for Cancer Patients

Preventative psychological interventions may have a moderate clinical effect upon anxiety but less upon depression. Level of evidence: "C"

A systematic review 1 including 25 studies with a total of 2124 subjects was abstracted in DARE. For anxiety, 19 trials had a combined effect size of 0.42 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.74), and were strongly heterogeneous. For depression, 20 trials had a combined effect size of 0.36 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.66), and were also heterogeneous. After removal of 3 studies with very large effect sizes the effect size was weak (0.19).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (limitations in review methodology)

    References

    • Sheard T, Maguire P. The effect of psychological interventions on anxiety and depression in cancer patients: results of two meta-analyses. Br J Cancer 1999 Aug;80(11):1770-80. [PubMed] [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords